Brief History

The thirty-three square mile area which is now the Township of Bridgewater was originally purchased from a local Indian tribe. Chartered by King George II of England in 1749, and incorporated in 1798, Bridgewater is a modern suburban municipality with a balance of residential and commercial uses. In the early years, Bridgewater was known as a farming town. What is now Somerville and Raritan were once part of Bridgewater Township until they broke away years after the chartering.

Today, as was said, Bridgewater is a diverse and thriving township with a mix of both rural and suburban life. Bridgewater Township is prime ground for many new and large businesses, including Sanofi-Aventis, J&J, MetLife, and Phillips-Van Heusen. Bridgewater has progressed rapidly from its rural roots, and will continue to grow in the future.

Hobbstown




Population of Bridgewater

1980 Census: 29,175
1990 Census: 32,509
2000 Census: 42,940
2010 Census: 44,464
2020 Census: 45,977